Find Things to Do in Scotland
A collection of guides to the best things to do and places to visit in all regions of Scotland.
The Callanish Standing Stones are located on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
These huge granite stones (the largest is 16 feet tall) were erected 5,000 years ago in the late Neolithic era, possibly for ritual use.
The site comprises a cross shape of monoliths around a central circle of 13 stones, with an avenue of a further 19 stones facing northeast.
The 124-metre summit of Reuval is the highest point on the Outer-Hebridean island of Benbecula.
Though the walk up the hill is short it’s undeniably one of the highlights of a visit to this remarkable isle as the top offers gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding sea, beaches, and mountains.
The Butt of Lewis is an area on the far-northern tip of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
In addition to being one of the windiest places in Britain, the ‘butt’ is home to a lighthouse built in 1862 that’s unusual because it’s unpainted rather than having the standard red and white colour scheme.
The Butt of Lewis is also a prime wildlife-spotting site as the steep cliffs are a haven for seabirds.
Luskentyre is located on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
This pristine golden sand beach is frequently voted among the top beaches in the UK thanks to its spectacular mountain backdrop and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Lews Castle is a Victorian-era castle situated in the heart of historic Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
The castle is a popular tourist destination thanks to the extensive landscaped gardens as well as the on-site cafe and gift shop.
The main point of interest though, is the museum which explores the history of Lewis, the people that live there, and the wildlife that call this remarkable island home.
Gearrannan Blackhouse Village lies on the southwest edge of the Isle of Lewis, set within a deep cove that offers protection against the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
The village comprises a number of restored blackhouses – traditional thatched stone-walled dwellings that served as home to both animals and people for hundreds of years.
The Arnol Blackhouse on the Isle of Lewis is a fine example of one of the traditional thatched stone-walled houses that served as home to both people and animals on Scotland’s west coast islands for hundreds of years.
The restored building at Arnol – number 42 – sits in an idyllic setting on Lewis, surrounded by open fields and complete with authentic piles of cut peat and harvested crops.
The Pentland Hills are located south of Edinburgh where they span Midlothian and West Lothian in a regional park that’s over 38 square miles in size.
There are 9 peaks over 1,500 feet in the Pentlands and more than 600,000 people visit them each year.
There are a number of entry points to the park but one of the best is at Swanston, which is just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh city centre.
North Morar is a remote region of Lochaber in the Scottish Highlands that lies between Loch Morar to the south and Loch Nevis to the north.
The peninsula is a popular destination for hill walkers, but it also sees crowds of tourists arriving from the Jacobite steam train which has its final destination at Mallaig – an attractive fishing village on the northern tip of the North Morar peninsula.
Woodhall Dean Nature Reserve in East Lothian is situated to the north-east of the Lammermuir Hills. The reserve comprises mixed woodland which surrounds a deep gorge that opens up onto rolling fields.
In spring, Woodhall Dean is awash with bluebells and primroses, while buzzards, sparrowhawks, and tawny owls can be seen throughout the year.
The Lammermuirs are a range of hills in the south of Scotland that border the county of East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
Visitors can explore the ancient hill forts at White Castle and Addinston, go for woodland walks at Pressmennan Wood and Yester Estate, and climb the highest point of the hill range at Meikle Says Law (1,755 feet/535 metres).
The Union Canal in Edinburgh opened in 1822 and was originally built to transport coal from Falkirk to the capital city, but it is now mainly used by leisure craft.
The footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the Union Canal joins the Water of Leith. It is part of the Sustrans route 75 which ends in Gourock, 30 miles west of Glasgow.
